Rotatable warning signal light



April 10, 1951 E. w. GosswlLLER ROTATABLE WARNING SIGNAL LIGHT 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 16, 1946 April 10, 1951 E. w. GosswlLLER ROTATABLE WARNING SIGNAL LIGHT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1946 April 10, 1951 E. w. GosswlLLER 2,548,154

RoTATABLr-z WARNING SIGNAL LIGHT Filed F'eb. 16, 1946 4 SheeltS-Shee'c 3 April l0, 1951 E. w. GosswlLLER RQTATABLE WARNING SIGNAL LIGHT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 16, 1946 Patented Apr. 10, 1951 RorrArALE-y WARNING SIGNAL LIGHT Earl W. Gro/sswiller,A Chicago, I ll., assgnor to Federal Enterprisesflnc., a, corporation of NewAV York Y epplicationrebruary 16, laioseriamo.648.119.

(Cl. 24U-48 )y 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in signal lights and` refers specifically to a signal light construction wherein an entire light` assembly, comprising, a reector, light source and prismatic lens,`is rotated to project attractive, attentionarresting rotating beams of light.

It has heretofore been proposed, in signal light constructions to rotate a prismatic lens positioned at the mouth of a stationary reflector which carries a stationary source of light. The rotation of the prismatic lens results in the projection of rotating refracted light beams whichl concentrate the light emanating from the light source along predetermined beams which are continuously moved.

In viewr of the fact that the lens is rotated, at the mouth of the reflector, an eiicient dust-tightV and moisture-tight` seal cannot be effected be. tween the periphery of the lens and the reliector mouth. Thisresults in rapid deterioration of the reflector surfacewith consequent diminuation of r'eectedlight.

Itis'an object of.my present invention wto enrploy a unitary light assembly, such as the usual automobile sealed beam headlight, and provide means for rotating the entire assembly including the reiiector, light source" and prismaticlens to accomplish the purpose of projecting rotating beams of light. i

Another'object of my` invention resides in the provision of rotating means lfor rotating an integral light assembly, as hereinabove described, which is simple in construction and operation and'can be `manufactured and maintainedA economically.

Other objects and advantages of` my invention will be apparentfrom the accompanying drawings and following'detailed description.

' In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a signal light embodying the concepts of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional vieW taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional-elevational view of a modiiication of mysignal light.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational View of one form of prismatic lens which may be employedwith my invention.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionalview taken on line l5--5 of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is a front elevational-view of another formof prismatic lens.

Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional view taken-on line 1-1 of Figv. 6.y i

Fig. 8 is a front elevational View of aiurther formof prismatic lens.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view'taken on lineUS-Qof Fig. 8'.

Referring in detail to the drawings, l indicates generally a housing inwhich my improved signal light is adapted to be positioned. The housing l comprises a rear shell 2-which preferably takes atear-drop or streamlined shape. The housingr I also comprises a front;V or forward portionl 3 which is providedA with an open mouth adapted for the reception ofv a translucentblosurefl. At the mouth portion of thev rear shell'2, apartition plate 5 is carried, said plate being-provided with an annular flange 6A into-which; the-edgel portion ofjthe mouth of the shell2 isadaptedto engage as indicated at 1 in- Fig. l. Iheedge portion of thefront shell-3 is positionedoverthe ange 6 andboth shells are secured-`together asa unitary. structure by means of asplit annular ring 8. The marginalV portionsv 91 ofv the annular-ring 8 are offset as shown best -in Fig. 1' and Vareada-pted-to `project into annular ,groovesr IllandV Il provided in shells2 and v3. A lug I2 is mounted on the adjacentends of -the-split r-ing-8-andy each is provided with an opening I3"thr0ughv which a screw i4; passeswhereby the ringA 8vh may ybra-securely clamped-upon-the shells 2 and 3.l

Adjacent the mouth of the shell 3 a rei-lector |5'is positioned, said reflector-being secured to the shell '3 byv means-of boltsv I 6.l The reiiectorA l5 is provided-with a frustro-conical reflecting surface I 'I which-tapers inwardly toward a4 signal light, hereinafter more-fullydescribed, which is positionedwithin the casing;- The peripheral portion of-closure 4 is-conned-between.thereilector-member'land the marginal portion of shel1'3: Theclosure .4, if desired, may becolored red: or green-or-any desired-colorV and is preferably a -plainor non-refracting lens:

Three rollersk i8 are mounted .in cirournieren-` tiallyvspaced relationship.v upon theiorward face ofthe partition 5. The rollers. I8..are provided Withangeslllrdefining an annular groove, 285 The rollers |8are mountedA upon shafts 2| which are-carried by bolts. 221which in turnare appropriately securedffor instance, by. means of nuts V23, to the partition plate 5.

A retaining/frame Mds-adapted to be positioned-between the plate 5 andthe `open-mouth portion of "the reflector l5. Atire `25'Lis carried inan annular groove 26 in the frame .24, the tire- 25 being` preferablyconstructed of. rubber orl other relatively resilient frictional material and being` removably `positioned in: the Y groove 26.2 A motor l21 ispositioned within .thecasing l vand isconnectedlbyemeansf ofV wires .28, to ,a suitable Ysource o f-electriacurrent l (not shown-l.

The shaft 29 of the motor 28 projects Within the connes of the shell 3 and is adapted to make frictional contact with the outer surface of the tire whereby the retaining frame 24 may be rotated, the rotation being guided by the circumferentially spaced rollers 8.

A light assemblyr3 is adapted to be carried by the retaining frame 24. The light assembly may take the form of the usual sealed beam headlight common with present day automobiles and may comprise a reflector of parabolic orV spherical shape (not shown). The light 30 also comprises a prismatic lens'3l which is preferably of such construction as to refract a portion of the light rays reflected from the reflector positioned within the assembly 30.

As examples of the types of refracting lenses which may be employed, reference is particularly made to Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive. In Figs. 4 and 5 a prismatic lens 39a is illustrated which is provided with a plurality of flutes 3h11l upon its rear face, the function of the flutes being to deflect the light beam at an angle to the optical axis of the light assembly. In Figs. 6 and 7 another form of refracting lens is illustrated as shown best at 3017. This form of lens is also provided with utes 3|b the function of which is to deflect the light beam at an angle to the optical axis in diverse directions from said axis. In Figs. 8 and 9 a furtherform of prismatic lens is illustrated at 39C. In this form of lens the central portion thereof, at the rear face, is flat as indicated at 3|c. Bordering the central portion 3|c are ilutes 32e similar` to the flutes 3|b. In this form of lens a central light beam is projected along the optical axis of the light assembly through the central portion 3|c of the lens. The flutes 32e refract the remaining light at an angle to the optical axis of the light assembly in both directions and in diverse directions away from said axis. l

A resilient annular ring 32 is secured by means of screws 33 to a portion of the retaining frame 24 whereby the light assembly 30 may be securely mounted in a central position upon the frame 24.

The arrangement is such that when the frame 24 is rotated, thereby rotating the light 3i), moving refracted beams of light will be projected through the closure 4. The prismatic construction of the lens 3| is preferably such that those beams which are refracted will be concentrated, as opposed to a prismatic construction which would tend to diffuse the light. Consequently,

lwith a suitable light source positioned Within the light 30 (not shown) the moving or rotating beam will be projected at relatively great distances from the signal light.

The central portion of the plate 5 is provided with a circular aperture 34 through which terminals 35 and 36 of the light 30 project. A metallic electrical conducting strip 31 is secured to terminal 35, preferably being welded or brazed thereto. Similarly an electrical conductive metallic strip 38 is secured to terminal 36. A spring contact arm 39 is secured by means of screw 40 to the strip 31 and similarly a spring contact arm 4| is secured by means of screw 42 rto the strip 38.

A bar 43 is disposed in spaced relationship with respect to the plate 5, the ends of said bar being secured to supports 44 (Fig. 2) which in turn are mounted upon plate 5 on diametrically opposite sides of the aperture-34. `Positioned at the central portion of the plate 43 is a contact 4 member 45. A bolt 46 comprises a portion of said contact member and projects through a sleeve 41 which also comprises a portion of the contact member. The bolt 46 is electrically insulated from the sleeve 41 by means of non-conductive Washers 48 and 49. An electric Wire 50 makes Contact with a suitable soldering lug 5| which is secured to the bolt 46 by means of nuts 52.

The arrangement is such that the member 4| Vcontacts the end or head of the bolt 46 and the member 39 makes contact With the outer surface of the sleeve 41. The sleeve 41 is grounded to one of the conductors brought in through the cable 28 and completion of the circuit is provided through one of the wires 50 which carries the current of higher potential. It can readily be seen that by this arrangement the frame 24 may be rotated by the motor 21 and electrical connections lor the light source within the light 3|] may be provided by the rotating arms 4| and 39.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, a slight modification of my signal light is illustrated. For purposes of clarity. of description, those portions of the structure shown in Fig. 3 which are identical with corresponding elements hereinbefore described in conjunction with Figs. l and 2, will be given the same corresponding reference numei-als.

In this form of my invention a retaining frame 24 is adapted to carry a sealed beam lamp 30. The lamp 39 is similar to the lamp 30 hereinbefore described except that it carries a plain transparent closure 3| instead of a prismatic lens 3|. The retaining frame 21| is of such construction that the lamp 3D is held in such a manner that its optical axis makes an angle with the longitudinal axis of the light assembly The frame 24 is mounted for rotation within the casing 3 and is driven by a motor 21 through the agency of a tire 25 which is guided by the rollers I8.A It Will be noted that shoulder 53 is offset from shoulder 54 so as to cant the light 30 upon its seat Within the frame 24. Although the lamp 3U rotates about an axis which is not coincident with its optical axis, the resilience of contact springs 39 and 4| is suiiicient to maintain electrical contact With the sleeve 41 and the head of the bolt 46.l

It can be seen that when the frame 24 is rotated, the beam of light i which is cast along the optical axis of the lamp 3B also rotates and produces an eiect which is analogous to the rotation of the lamp 30 with its prismatic lens 3|. Of course, if desired, the lens 3|' may comprise a prismatic lens such as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive in which case an added attractive reffect would be produced which would make toward an eicient signal light. Y

It is to be understood, of course, that the shoulders 53 and 54 are continuous throughout the circumference of the frame 24 and contact at rear portion or bead 55 of the lamp 36 at all points throughout its circumference.

Another manner in which a rotating beam may be projected from my signal lamp wherein a plain lens may be used, is to offset the filament (not shown) of the lamp from its focal position in front of the reflector. It can readily be seen that if such a lamp is carried by frame 24, a rotating beam will be projected from the signal light when the frame is rotated. It will also be obvious that any one or more of the expedients hereinbefore described may be employed. For example, a lamp having a prismatic lens and being held in a frame similar to frame 24 and having its light source offset from the focus of the reflector may be utilized, or a lamp similar to lamp 36' having a prismatic lens similar to the lens 3| may be rotated in a frame such as frame 24', the lamp having its light source offset from the focus of the reilector. It can readily be seen that many desirable attractive moving beam arrangements may be secured.

I claim as my invention:

l.. A signalV light comprising a casing having a translucent Wall, a partition mounted in said casing, ciroumferentially spaced guide rollers carried by said partition, a retaining frame, a resilient tire carrier by said frame, said tire and frame being rotatably carried by said guide rollers, a unitary light assembly disposed substantially centrally behind said transparent wall, comprising a coaxially disposed reflector and lens and interposed electric light source removably mounted upon said frame, rotary driving means frictionally contacting said tire for rotating said frame to project from said casing through said transparent Wall a concentrated rotating beam of light.

2. A signal light comp-rising a casing having a transparent Wall, a partition mounted in said `casing, circumferentially spaced guide rollers carried by said partition, a retaining frame, a resilient tire carried by said frame, said tire and frame being rotatably carried by said guide rollers, a light assembly comprising as a unit a reflector, a light refracting prismatic lens and electric light source all having a common optical axis, said unit being removably mounted upon said retaining frame, and rotary driving means frictionally contacting said tire for rotating said retaining frame to rotate said light assembly about its optical axis to project a concentrated rotating beam of light from said casing at an angle to the optical axis of said light assembly, the optical axis of said light assembly being substantially coaxial with the central portion of said transparent Wall.

EARL W. GOSSWILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the :le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v Date 1,635,517 Tyler July 12, 1927 1,731,960 Wilson Oct. 15, 1929 1,761,361 Oberg et al June 3, 1930 1,803,599 Craig May 5, 1931' 2,148,314 Wright Feb. 21, 1939 2,151,600 Janzen Mar. 21 ,1939

2,411,935 OFarrell Dec. 3, 1946 2,446,333 Kennelly Aug. 3, 1948 2,475,365 Walsh July 5, 1949 

